Container lid for retaining object and related methods

ABSTRACT

A system for displaying an object on a lid of a container, the system comprising: a container including an end having an opening; an object; and a container lid comprising a cover portion, a rim portion around the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to the end of the container having the opening, and a retainer for retaining the object to the container lid, the retainer comprising at least one of an aperture in the container lid for receiving at least a portion of the object or at least one nub on the container lid that aids in retaining the object. A container lid for retaining an object on the lid. A method of packaging an object to a container lid. A method of using a container lid for distributing an object retained on the lid. A method of using an object retained on a container lid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to container lids, and more particularlyrelates to a container lid that is able to retain an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common practice to display promotional messages and advertisementson food and beverage containers. Examples of such containers includesoft drink cups, coffee cups, tea, soups, “to go” snack packs, etc.Retailers or other establishments or companies selling such containersand any contents are interested in having more space for promotions andadvertising on the crowded and often small containers. In order toincrease such space, removable items, such as game pieces, cards anddiscs, have been attached to such containers.

One particular type of promotional material that has been distributedrecently is in the form of a card, such as a stored value card, a phonecard, etc. Such promotional cards are typically about the size of acredit card, and are not easily attached to beverage containers, forexample. As a result, such promotional cards are usually distributedseparately to a consumer, thereby necessitating another step during atransaction. In particular, in the fast food industry, for example,there are established acceptable amounts of time that it takes toservice a customer. Other such fast-paced work environments concernedwith transaction time include convenience stores and concession standsat sporting events, for example. Distribution of promotional oradvertising materials to customers that requires a worker in suchfast-paced work environments to take additional steps is not desired.

Thus, there exists a need for a way to distribute promotional oradvertising material to a consumer on a container, such as a beveragecup. It is further desired that distribution of such a card be costeffective and efficient for a company.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention includes a system for displaying an objecton a lid of a container, the system comprising: a container including anend having an opening; an object; and a container lid comprising a coverportion, a rim portion around the periphery of the cover portion andable to be coupled to the end of the container having the opening, and aretainer for retaining the object to the container lid. The retainer maycomprise a slot in the cover portion and the object may be partiallydisposed in the slot. A first portion of the object may be partiallydisposed within the slot and a second portion of the object may rest onthe rim portion. The retainer may further comprise at least one cavityin the rim portion, and a first portion of the object may be partiallydisposed in the slot of the cover portion and a second portion of theobject may be frictionally fit in the at least one cavity of the rimportion. The second portion of the object may comprise at least onecorner with the at least one corner being frictionally fit in the atleast one cavity of the rim portion of the container lid. The secondportion of the object may comprise at least one side with the at leastone side being frictionally fit in the at least one cavity of the rimportion of the container lid. The second portion of the object mayfurther comprise at least one side with the at least one side beingfrictionally fit in the at least one cavity of the rim portion of thecontainer lid. The retainer may comprise at least one nub that retainsthe object. The at least one nub may include a protuberance that extendsover the object that helps to retain the object. The container lid maybe thermoformed from extruded plastic sheet material. The object may beselected from the group consisting of a gift card, a loyalty card, aphone card, a trading card, a playing card, any other cards, a gamepiece, a coupon, a media or multi-media storage device, and any othersuitable article or device. The object may be wrapped in a protectivefilm. The container may be a cup.

A second aspect is a container lid for retaining an object on the lid,the container lid comprising: a cover portion; a rim portion around theperiphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to a portion of acontainer; and a retainer for holding an object to the container lid.The retainer may comprise a slot in the cover portion. The retainer mayfurther comprise at least one cavity in the rim portion in which aportion of the object may be frictionally fit. The retainer may compriseat least one nub on the cover portion that retains the object. The atleast one nub may include a protuberance that extends over the objectthat helps to retain the object. The container lid may be thermoformedfrom extruded plastic sheet material. The container may be a cup.

A third aspect is a method of packaging an object to a container lid,the method comprising the steps of: providing an object; providing acontainer lid comprising: a cover portion; a rim portion around theperiphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to a portion of acontainer; and a retainer for holding an object to the container lid;and inserting the object into the retainer. Prior to the step ofproviding the object, the method may further comprise the step ofwrapping the object in a protective film. The retainer may comprise aslot in the cover portion, and the inserting step may comprise insertinga first portion of the object in the slot. The retainer may furthercomprise at least one cavity in the rim portion, and the inserting stepmay further comprise frictionally fitting at least a second portion ofthe object in the at least one cavity. The retainer may comprise atleast one nub on the cover portion that retains the object, and theinserting step may comprise inserting the object within the at least onenub. The at least one nub may include a protuberance, and the insertingstep may further comprise inserting the object such that theprotuberance extends over the object and helps to retain the object.

A fourth aspect is a method of using a container lid for distributing anobject retained on the lid, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a container lid comprising: a cover portion; a rim portionaround the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to aportion of a container; and a retainer for holding an object to thecontainer lid; obtaining the object to be distributed on the lid;securing the object in the retainer on the lid; coupling the lid to thecontainer; and distributing the container with the object retained onthe container lid.

A fifth aspect is a method of using an object retained on a containerlid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a container lid witha retained object comprising: a cover portion; a rim portion around theperiphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to a portion of acontainer; and a retainer for holding the object to the container lid;removing the object from the lid; and using the object for a purpose.The object may be a game piece, and the using step may comprisecomparing information on the game piece with information elsewhere. Theobject may be a decoder, and the using step may comprise holding thedecoder near an area of information to allow decoded information to beviewed through the decoder. The area of information may be located onthe container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other advantages of the invention, and themanner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the inventionitself will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a container lid, in particular a cup lid,according to an exemplary embodiment, shown with a card retained in thelid;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid in FIG. 1, shown withthe card removed and taken along line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cup lid in FIG. 1, shown with the cardremoved;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an exemplary container lid, according to analternative embodiment of the invention, shown with a card retained inthe lid by four nubs;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the container lid of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary side elevational view of a container lid,according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is perspective view of a cup, according to an embodiment of theinvention, shown with a card and an information, or game area on thecup;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container lid, in particular a cuplid, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown withone portion of the card retained in a slot in a rim portion and a secondportion of the card resting on the rim portion of the lid; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a container lid, according to an alternativeembodiment of the invention, shown with a card in phantom such that afirst portion of the card would be retained in a slot in an elevatedportion and a second portion of the card would rest on a rim portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments described below are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed inthe following detailed description. Rather the embodiments are chosenand described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate andunderstand the principles and practices of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect, the invention includes a system fordisplaying an object on a lid of a container. A second aspect of theinvention includes a container lid for retaining an object on the lid. Athird aspect of the invention includes a method of packaging an objectto a container lid. A fourth aspect of the invention is a method ofusing a container lid for distributing an object retained on the lid. Afifth aspect of the invention includes a method of using an objectretained on a container lid.

One advantage of these and alternative embodiments is that an object,such as a gift card, a loyalty card, a phone card, a trading card, aplaying card, any other card, a game piece, a coupon, a media ormulti-media storage device, a decoder, and any other suitable article ordevice, may be pre-assembled to a container (e.g., a cup) lid, therebyeliminating time spent by a worker at an establishment to distributesuch an object separately to a consumer. Another advantage is thatpre-assembled container (e.g., a cup) lids are relatively inexpensive toproduce, and thereby cost-effective.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a container (e.g., acup) lid 100 and a retained card 110 is shown from a top view. The cuplid 100 is shown with a cover portion 120 and a rim portion 130 aroundthe periphery of the cover portion 120. A card retainer or other meansfor retaining the card 110 such that the card 110 is releasably affixedis shown, which includes a slot (not shown) in an elevated portion 140of the cover portion 120, in which a portion of the card 110 isinserted, as shown in phantom, and two cavities 150 in the rim portion130 and opposite the slot, which frictionally fits corners of the card110 in the cavities 150. Two cavities 150 are shown, however there maybe one or more than one cavity opposite the slot in the elevatedportion. Alternatively, the slot may not be in an elevated portion asshown. Also shown in phantom is a drinking aperture 160 (e.g., a strawentry opening), which is located near the center of the cup lid 100 andis located under the card 110.

The container of the invention is shown in the figures as being a cup.However, a wide variety of containers are contemplated, such as anyother food containers, household product containers, etc. The shape ofsuch containers contemplated also vary widely, such as being circular,square, diamond, triangular, oval etc. in cross-section.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cup lid in FIG. 1 shown with thecard 110 removed and taken along line A-A. The slot 170 in the elevatedportion 140 into which the card 110 may be slid is shown incross-section. The size and shape of the slot is preferably configuredin the approximate shape of the cross-section of the card 110 andslightly larger than the cross-section of the card 110. The figure alsoshows the rim portion 130 including a cavity 180 in which an upper endor rim of a cup may be sealingly secured. Other configurations of therim are also contemplated by the invention however.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the cup lid 100 from FIG. 1 with the card 110removed. Two cavities 150 in the rim portion 130 are seen.

Alternative embodiments contemplate different cup lid configurationsthat are preferably generally circular in shape and configured to beapplied to the upper rim or end of a standard plastic or paperdisposable drink cup. However, the invention is not limited to such cupsand the lids may be sized and shaped to fit any cup or any othercontainer upon which lids are normally used.

Also, contemplated is the retention of a wide variety of objects onlids. The object may be chosen from a group consisting of a gift card, aloyalty card, a phone card, a trading card, a playing card, any othercard, a game piece, a coupon, a decoder, a media or multi-media storagedevice, and any other suitable article or device. A preferred example ofan object that may be held or retained is a CR80 card. A CR80 card is aplastic card that has a traditional credit card size. CR80 cards areused in many applications, such as gift cards, loyalty cards, and phonecards, for example. However, many different suitable objects arecontemplated by the invention to be retained on a container lid, and arenot limited to those described herein.

The object used in the invention may be wrapped in a protective film ofsome sort in order to avoid contamination of food or beverage containedin a container used with the lid of the invention or to protect theobject from handling of the container lid. One example of a protectivefilm is a cellophane wrap, although other materials are alsocontemplated.

The container (e.g., cup) lids disclosed include, for example, a coverportion 120 and a rim portion 130. The container lids are preferably onepiece construction, and are preferably made by thermoforming, but may bemade from multiple structures (for example, the nubs may be glued on,etc. The object could be inserted into the nub and then the nub glued tothe lid, or alternatively, the nubs could be glued to the lid and thenthe card inserted. Generally, thermoforming is the pressing and/orstretching of heated deformable material into a final shape.Thermoforming is generally an automatic high speed positioning of anextruded, heated sheet having an accurately controlled temperature intoa pneumatically actuated forming station whereby the shape of aresultant article is defined by a mold, followed by trimming and regrindcollection, as is well known in the art. Forming techniques other thanconventional thermoforming can also be suitable for the manufacture ofcup lids as herein described. These include variations such aspresoftening the extruded sheet to temperatures below the final meltingtemperature, cutting flat sections (i.e., blanks) from the sheet,transfer of blanks by gravity or mechanical means into matched moldswhereby the blanks are shaped into the article by heat and pressure.Still other alternative arrangements include the use of drape, vacuum,snap-back, billow vacuum, plus assist vacuum, reverse draw with plugassist, pressure bubble immersion, trapped sheet, slip, diaphragm,twin-sheet cut sheet, twin-sheet rolled forming and suitablecombinations of the above. Suitable formed cup lids can be trimmed inline with a cutting die with the trimmings being optionally reused.Other arrangements for productivity enhancements include thesimultaneous forming of multiple articles with multiple dies in order tomaximize throughput and minimize scrap. This is one exemplary method forforming the container lids, however, and other methods are alsocontemplated.

The container lids described are preferably made of thermoplasticmaterials. A suitable material is a styrene polymer composition, whichmay be filled or unfilled. The composition can have enough pigment toprovide opacity or near opacity. Other suitable materials includepolyolefins such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes and mixtures thereof,polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylates, polysulfones, polyetherketones,polycarbonates, acrylics, polyphenylene sulfides, acetyls, celluosics,polyether imides, polyphenylene ethers/oxides, styrene maleic anhydridecopolymers, styrene acrylonitrile copolymers, polyvinyl chlorides, andengineered resin derivatives thereof. These materials can also be filledor unfilled. Fillers for any of the polymeric materials can be anyconventional materials, as would be well known to one of ordinary skillin the art.

The thickness of the plastic material from which the invention is mademay range from about 0.005 inches to about 0.060 inches. However, thethicknesses described are one preferred range, and the range ofthicknesses contemplated by the invention may any suitable thickness.When vacuum-formed, such an embodiment would preferably include 12-milthick polystyrene or other suitable material. The container lid ispreferably thick enough and made from a material such that the lid doesnot come apart when handled.

In the embodiment of the container (e.g., cup) lid shown in FIGS. 1-3,cover portion 120 is lower in elevation than the rim portion 130 and theelevated portion 140 is the same elevation as the rim portion 130 (seenin FIG. 2). However, other configurations are also contemplated by theinvention.

An alternative to the cavities 150 shown in the figures, in order tohold the object in place, is to include slits or slots in the rimportion 130 into which portions of the card 110 (or other object, if acard is not used), opposite the part of the card 110 in the slot, couldbe inserted. Also, it may be desirable to include no structures, such ascavities 150 to hold the card 110, but rather to configure slot 170 tofrictionally hold card 110 therein. Alternatively, the card, or otherobject, could rest on the rim portion of the lid opposite the slot. FIG.8 illustrates an alternative embodiment cup lid 800 in which a portionof a card 810 is frictionally retained in a slot 870 in a rim portion830 with the other end or another portion of the card 810 resting on therim portion 830 of the lid 800. FIG. 9 shows a top view of a containerlid, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown witha card in phantom such that a first portion of the card would beretained in a slot in an elevated portion 940 and a second portion ofthe card would rest on a rim portion 930.

If the container lid is a cup lid, as those shown in the figures, thelid may include at least one drinking aperture. Such a drinking aperturemay have straw entry openings including criss-crossed slits or X-shapedcuts in the cup lid. In alternative embodiments of the invention, thelid may include, instead of a straw entry opening, at least one drinkingaperture that is positioned generally adjacent to the surrounding rimportion of the lid through which liquid may be drawn directly by aconsumer. Such an aperture may be of any size and shape such that liquidmay be withdrawn through the cup lid from within an attached cup. It isalso possible that such a drinking aperture may have a cover piece.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment. A container (e.g., cup) lid 400with an alternative means for retaining a card 410 is shown. The cup lid400 includes a cover portion 420 and a rim portion 430 around theperiphery of the cover portion 420. A card retainer or means forretaining the card 410 is shown, and includes a plurality (four shown inFIG. 4) of nubs 490 that are spaced such that the nubs 490 contact thecard 410 near all four corners of the card 410. The nubs 490 hold thecard 410 in place on the cup lid 400, with the card 410 frictionallyfitting within the plurality of nubs 490. A drinking aperture 460 isshown in phantom near the center of the cup lid 400 and under the card410. It should be noted that the holding structures, such as nubs 490,depicted should not be viewed as limiting. Holding structures formedatop the cup lid may be configured in various forms and may come in anyof a variety of numbers without departing from the scope of theinvention. Additionally, it is contemplated that as few as one nub maybe used in the invention to retain an object on a container. Therefore,such an embodiment may comprise at least one nub.

FIG. 5 shows a side elevational view of the cup lid 400 in FIG. 4. Thenubs 490 are shown attached to the cover portion 420, with the rimportion 430 surrounding the cover portion 420. In the figure, the coverportion 420 is shown elevated compared to the rim portion 430. However,it is also contemplated that the rim portion could be elevated comparedto the cover portion 420 as in other embodiments shown.

FIG. 6 shows a side elevational view of another embodiment of a cup lid600. Nubs 690 shown in the figure each include a protuberance 695 thatcan extend over a card to hold the card in place.

Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention may be a cup lid that isthermally formed to include a drinking aperture that can act as a nub ora cavity as used in the earlier described embodiments to retain orpartially retain an object.

Although one-piece construction of the container lid is preferred, it isalso contemplated that the nubs 490, 690, or other holding structures,could also be separately attached to the remainder of the container lidafter production of the container lid using thermoforming, for example.In addition, the objects may be attached to the retaining mechanismprior to attaching the nubs or cavities to the lid, or after attachingthe nubs or cavities to the lid.

One aspect of the invention is a system for displaying an object on alid of a container, the system comprising: a container including an endhaving an opening; an object; and a container lid comprising a coverportion, a rim portion around the periphery of the cover portion andable to be coupled to the end of the container having the opening, and aretainer for retaining the object to the container lid.

A second aspect of the invention is a container lid for retaining anobject on the lid, the container lid comprising: a cover portion; a rimportion around the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupledto a portion of a container; and a retainer for holding an object to thecontainer lid.

A third aspect of the invention is a method of packaging an object to acontainer lid, the method comprising the steps of: providing an object;providing a container lid comprising: a cover portion; a rim portionaround the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to aportion of a container; and a retainer for holding an object to thecontainer lid; and inserting the object into the retainer.

A fourth aspect is a method of using a container lid for distributing anobject retained on the lid, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a container lid comprising: a cover portion; a rim portionaround the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to aportion of a container; and a retainer for holding an object to thecontainer lid; obtaining the object to be distributed on the lid;securing the object in the retainer on the lid; coupling the lid to thecontainer; and distributing the container with the object retained onthe container lid.

A fifth aspect is a method of using an object retained on a containerlid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a container lid witha retained object comprising: a cover portion; a rim portion around theperiphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to a portion of acontainer; and a retainer for holding the object to the container lid;removing the object from the lid; and using the object for a purpose.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the invention relating to using anobject retained on a container lid. FIG. 7 shows a cup 705 including acard 710, such as a game card or decoder that is retained in a slot 770in a rim portion 730 of a lid 700. The card 710 may be removed from thecup lid 700 and held near the game, or information area 735 in order to,for example, decode the information in the game or information area 735.The card or decoder 710 may be held near the area of information 735 toallow decoded information to be viewed through the decoder 710.Alternatively, the card 710 could be removed in order to compareinformation on the card 710 with information appearing in theinformation, or game area 735. Another example of using such a card 710would be to remove the card 710 and compare information on the card 710to information on a display in a store or restaurant, for example. Otheralternatives for using the object (e.g., a card 710) are alsocontemplated by the invention, and are not limited to those describedherein.

FIG. 7 includes a logo 755 that may alternatively appear on a containerof the invention. Various types of printing and attachable itemsconstituting logos, such as 755, are contemplated by the invention.

Other embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art upon consideration of this specification or from practice of theinvention disclosed herein. Various omissions, modifications, andchanges to the principles and embodiments described herein may be madeby one skilled in the art without departing from the true scope andspirit of the invention which is indicated by the following claims.

1. A system for displaying an object on a lid of a container, the systemcomprising: a container including an end having an opening; an object;and a container lid comprising a cover portion, a rim portion around theperiphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to the end of thecontainer having the opening, and a retainer for retaining the object tothe container lid, the retainer comprising at least one of an aperturein the container lid for receiving at least a portion of the object orat least one nub on the container lid that aids in retaining the object.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises a slot in thecover portion.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein a first portion of theobject is partially disposed within the aperture and a second portion ofthe object rests on the rim portion.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinthe retainer further comprises at least one cavity in the rim portion,and a first portion of the object is partially disposed in the apertureand a second portion of the object is frictionally fit in the at leastone cavity of the rim portion.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein thesecond portion of the object comprises at least one corner with the atleast one corner being frictionally fit in the at least one cavity ofthe rim portion of the container lid.
 6. The system of claim 4, whereinthe second portion of the object comprises at least one side with the atleast one side being frictionally fit in the at least one cavity of therim portion of the container lid.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein thesecond portion of the object further comprises at least one side withthe at least one side being frictionally fit in the at least one cavityof the rim portion of the container lid.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the retainer further comprises at least one aperture and atleast one nub that retains the object.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe retainer comprises at least one nub on the cover portion thatretains the object.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least onenub includes a protuberance that extends over the object that helps toretain the object.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the container lidis thermoformed from extruded plastic sheet material.
 12. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of agift card, a loyalty card, a phone card, a trading card, a playing card,any other card, a game piece, a coupon, a media or multi-media storagedevice, and any other suitable article or device.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the object is wrapped in a protective film.
 14. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the container is a cup.
 15. A container lidfor retaining an object on the lid, the container lid comprising: acover portion; a rim portion around the periphery of the cover portionand able to be coupled to a portion of a container; and a retainer forholding an object to the container lid, the retainer comprising at leastone of an aperture in the container lid for receiving at least a portionof the object or at least one nub on the container lid that aids inretaining the object.
 16. The container lid of claim 15, wherein theaperture comprises a slot in the cover portion.
 17. The container lid ofclaim 15, wherein the retainer further comprises at least one cavity inthe rim portion in which a portion of the object may be frictionallyfit.
 18. The container lid of claim 15, wherein the retainer comprisesat least one aperture and at least one nub that retains the object. 19.The container lid of claim 15, wherein the at least one nub includes aprotuberance that extends over the object that helps to retain theobject.
 20. The container lid of claim 15, wherein the container lid isthermoformed from extruded plastic sheet material.
 21. The container lidof claim 15, wherein the container is a cup.
 22. A method of packagingan object to a container lid, the method comprising the steps of:providing an object; providing a container lid comprising: a coverportion; a rim portion around the periphery of the cover portion andable to be coupled to a portion of a container; and a retainer forholding an object to the container lid; and inserting the object intothe retainer.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein prior to the step ofproviding the object, further comprising the step of wrapping the objectin a protective film.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the retainercomprises a slot in the cover portion, and the inserting step comprisesinserting a first portion of the object in the slot.
 25. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the retainer further comprises at least one cavity inthe rim portion, and the inserting step further comprises frictionallyfitting at least a second portion of the object in the at least onecavity.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein the retainer comprises atleast one nub on the cover portion that retains the object, and theinserting step comprises inserting the object within the at least onenub.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one nub includes aprotuberance, and the inserting step further comprises inserting theobject such that the protuberance extends over the object and helps toretain the object.
 28. A method of using a container lid fordistributing an object retained on the lid, the method comprising thesteps of: obtaining a container lid comprising: a cover portion; a rimportion around the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupledto a portion of a container; and a retainer for holding an object to thecontainer lid; obtaining the object to be distributed on the lid;securing the object in the retainer on the lid; coupling the lid to thecontainer; and distributing the container with the object retained onthe container lid.
 29. A method of using an object retained on acontainer lid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a containerlid with a retained object comprising: a cover portion; a rim portionaround the periphery of the cover portion and able to be coupled to aportion of a container; and a retainer for holding the object to thecontainer lid, the retainer comprising at least one of an aperture inthe container lid for receiving at least a portion of the object or atleast one nub on the container lid that aids in retaining the object;removing the object from the lid; and using the object for a purpose.30. The method of claim 29, wherein the object is a game piece, and theusing step comprises comparing information on the game piece withinformation elsewhere.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the object isa decoder, and the using step comprises holding the decoder near an areaof information to allow decoded information to be viewed through thedecoder.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the area of information islocated on the container.
 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the objectis used in a payment process.
 34. The method of claim 29, wherein theobject is used in an electronic device.